AS YOU LIKE IT
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL SEXTON
WITH SONGS COMPOSED BY BEN TOTH PERFORMED LIVE BY THE COMPANY
WHEN: January 25 — February 16
WHERE: Rechnitz Theater, 36 Bridges Ave., Red Bank
TICKETS: $37 to $65, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans.
A limited number of $20 tickets are available for every performance; $20 tickets may be partial view.
Tickets for patrons under 30 are $24 and include the best available seats at every performance.
Tickets are available from www.tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400
Two River will also launch a new program, A Little Shakespeare, with a 75-minute version of As You Like It performed by high-school students for audiences ages 9 and up in the Marion Huber Theater from February 4-8
Free Inside Two River events for As You Like It include (more info below)
- Open Rehearsal on Thursday, January 16
- Shakespeare 101 with Artistic Director John Dias on Thursday, January 23
- Post-play talk by Mary Bly—a scholar also known as the romance novelist Eloisa James—on Sunday, February 9 following the 3 PM matinee
- Screening of Joss Whedon’s film version of Much Ado About Nothing on January 13
- Shakespeare-themed Loser Slam open-mic poetry night on January 27
- Two River’s Book Club on February 2
Shakespeare’s comedy of cross-dressing heroines and triumphant heroes stars Miriam A. Hyman as Rosalind and Jacob Fishel (returning to Two River after his highly acclaimed performance as Henry V last season) as Orlando. As the characters of the play move from the constrained world of the Duke’s court into the Forest of Arden, they must learn to confront their own fears and limitations—and surrender to romance. Sexton’s production will showcase the transformative abilities of the acting company, who will also perform original songs composed by Ben Toth (Sleepless in Seattle at the Pasadena Playhouse) live on stage.
The cast also includes Matt Bittner (First Lord/Silvius), Leighton Bryan (Le Beau/Phoebe), Ben Diskant (Oliver/William), Philip Goodwin (Duke Frederick/Duke Senior), Geoffrey Owens (Jacques), Myra Lucretia Taylor (Adam/Audrey), Brendan Titley (Touchstone), Sara Topham (Celia/Sir Oliver Martext), and J.D. Webster (Charles/Amiens/Corin/Hymen).
The creative team includes scenic designer Brett J. Banakis; costume designer Tilly Grimes; lighting designer Seth Reiser; sound designer Brandon Wolcott; music director Sarah Taylor Ellis; vocal coach Deborah Hecht; and fight director J. Steven White. The casting is by Samantha Barrie, CSA and the stage manager is Terri K. Kohler.
“I first thought of As You Like It for this season as a great play for Michael Sexton and Jacob Fishel, who collaborated so beautifully last year on our production of Henry V. And, I wanted to bring our audiences a romantic comedy and a bit of lightness,” says Artistic Director John Dias. “With our new A Little Shakespeare program and the breadth of events we are offering through Inside Two River, we affirm our commitment to foster a love for Shakespeare among all audiences. My grand ambition is to have some Shakespeare resonating in every corner of our theater and to get everyone in our community turned on to the thrill of his exquisite language.”
A Little Shakespeare
From February 4-8, during the run of As You Like It, Two River will present a 75-minute version of the play adapted and directed by Jason McDowell-Green in its black-box Marion Huber Theater for audiences ages 9 and up. The production, performed by high-school students, will also feature live original music. In addition to four student matinees, there will be performances open to the general public on Friday, February 7, at 7 PM and Saturday, February 8, at 12 PM and 4 PM.
Inside Two River
Inside Two River is a series of free events specially curated for each Two River Theater production. For more information or to reserve seats, patrons should visit www.tworivertheater.org or call 732.345.1400.
Film Screening: Much Ado About Nothing on Monday, January 13, at 7:30 PM in the Rechnitz Theater
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (seen on Two River’s stage in 2011/12) gets a sly and sparkling modern retelling in this 2012 release, adapted and directed by Joss Whedon.
Open Rehearsal: Thursday, January 16, at 7:30 PM in the Rechnitz Theater
Director Michael Sexton and actors Jacob Fishel (Orlando) and Miriam A. Hyman (Rosalind) will give audiences insight into how they approach Shakespeare’s text and language in a free open rehearsal, followed by coffee and dessert.
Shakespeare 101 with Artistic Director John Dias: Thursday, January 23, at 7:30 PM in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library
Artistic Director John Dias will discuss how directors and designers make choices about sets and costumes, and how actors learn to speak Shakespeare’s heightened language in a way that makes it accessible to audiences. Questions may be submitted in advance on Two River’s Facebook Page.
Shakespearian Lose Slam Poetry Event: Monday, January 27, at 7:00 PM in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library
Two River Theater is hosting Loser Slam open-mic nights throughout the season. In connection with As You Like It, the public is invited to attend to perform or to listen to poets and spoken-word artists perform original work on the subject of romance—or something creatively Bard-themed.
Book Club: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern; Sunday, February 2, at 6:00 PM in the Victoria Mastrobuono Library
Literary Manager Anika Chapin will lead a discussion of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and how its themes of love, disguise, and finding one’s own true self overlap with As You Like It.
Guest Speaker: Mary Bly/Eloisa James, Sunday, February 9 following the 3 PM matinee performance in the Rechnitz Theater
Mary Bly is a professor of Shakespeare at Fordham University —and, under the pen name Eloisa James, a bestselling romance novelist. She’ll discuss love and drama in a special post-play discussion.
Lobby Display: Shakespeare Starts of the Jersey Shore
Local historian Karen L. Schnitzspahn will curate a special lobby display of memorabilia about great Shakespearean actors who summered in Monmouth County during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Audience Extras
- Before Play: Audiences are invited to attend a free lecture about this production that will take place in the lobby 45 minutes before every performance.
- Post-Play Conversations: Discussions with the cast will take place following the performances on Wednesday, February 5 at 7pm and Wednesday, February 12 at 1pm.
Accessibility
Working with Google, Two River has created and launched a virtual tour of its facility, which lives on Google Maps and www.tworivertheater.org. This virtual tour provides an additional level of support and benefit for patrons who use wheelchairs or require other assistance by allowing them to virtually come through the theater’s front doors and view the space in detail in advance of their visit.
An audio-described performance is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12 at 1 PM; tickets to this performance are offered at the discounted rate of $25 for patrons needing audio description.
An open-captioned performance is scheduled for Saturday, February 16 at 3 PM. Tickets to this performance are offered at the discounted rate of $25 for patrons needing open captions. To reserve wheelchair-accessible seating or tickets for a performance listed above, patrons should call 732.345.1400.
